VELIKII USTIUG, 1772

Details

A SILVER AND NIELLO CARTOGRAPHIC BOX
VELIKII USTIUG, 1772
Circular, the detachable cover and base engraved with lines of longitude and topographical features and inscribed with the names of cities, the cover depicting a map of the White Sea and surrounding territory, including Karelia, Arkhangelsk and the Solovetsky Islands, the base depicting a map of Velikii Ustiug, the Northern Dvina River and surrounding territory, the interior gilt, marked inside base, apparently no maker’s mark
4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm.) diameter
11.29 oz. (351.2 gr.) gross

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

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Lot Essay

Snuff-boxes engraved with maps of cities and provinces became increasingly popular at the end of the eighteenth and beginning of the nineteenth centuries, as engraved maps became more widely disseminated. Maps of the provenance of Vologda, which also included Velikii Ustiug, were a natural choice for niello artists.

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